Heart and Stroke Encyclopedia

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Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, SCAD, is a rare but potentially fatal disease that usually affects young women with no risk factors for heart disease. The coronary arteries that arise from the aorta and supply blood to the heart consist of three layers. Dissection occurs when two of these layers separate, enabling blood to flow into the space between the layers. As blood accumulates, it can obstruct the heart’s normal blood flow, leading to chest pain, heart attack and even sudden death.